The Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Thailand Foundation provided partial funding support to the Mount Yasa Thak climbing activity in Nepal led by Mr. Vitidnan Rojanapanich. This expedition serves as a symbol of friendship between Thailand and Nepal on the occasion of the 65^th anniversary of diplomatic relations and is aimed at promoting people-to-people relations between the two countries.

               On December 2, 2024, Mr. Vitidnan Rojanapanich, the first Thai to conquer Mount Everest in 2008, led the Echo Friendship Expedition 2024 team to climb Mount Yasa Thak in Nepal, which stands at 6,141 meters above sea level. This mission was organised in order to pay tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn. On this occasion, Mr. Vitidnan and his team carried with them a Buddha statue (Phra Buddha Metta) from Wat Thai Buddhagaya to be placed on the summit, along with a glass box containing Kalanamak rice, the same kind of rice that Sujata had offered to the Lord Buddha during his time.

                Mount Yasa Thak is one of the mountains that the Government of Nepal had never granted a climbing permit to anyone.  Mr. Vitidnan became the first foreigner to summit Mount Yasa Thak and received a certificate from the Nepal Tourism Board. Additionally, the Nepal Mountaineering Association is currently seeking official approval to add the suffix "Echo Peak" to “Mount Yasa Thak” as a symbol of friendship and an echo of the endless love between Thailand and Nepal. Mr. Vitidnan was inspired to use the word "Echo" from the Royal composition “Echo” composed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great.

                Mr. Vitidnan is also the founder of the Thai-Nepal Friendship Association and played a crucial role in supporting the fund raising and donations to Nepal following the 2015tragic earthquake.

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